Lee L Caldwell

Biography

[JAC - From Lucy Lucille Caldwell Stotts]

Graduated from High School at Allerton, Iowa and Simpson College, Indianola, iowa. Studied at Cedar Falls, Iowa and University of Chicago, Illinios.

He was Superintendent of Schools in Montezuma, Iowa when his son, Lynton Keith and daughter Margaret were born. Then was in Monmouth, Illinios at the time his third child, a girl, was born. From there they moved to Hammond, Indiana where he was Superintendent of Schools for 37 years. The Lee L. Caldwell school there was named in his honor, with his picture and a bronze plaque.

"Lee L. Caldwell Dies" were the front page headlines on the Hammond Times - East Chicago, Ind., Tuesday, June 2, 1959. Followed by, "Head of Hammond's Schools Since 1922 Succumbs at 75.

Lee L. Caldwell, superintendent of Hammond schools for 37 years, died unexpectedly late Monday night in St. Margaret Hospital. He was 75. Died: June 1, 1959.

Mr. Caldwell had been admitted to the hospital Friday for observation. He had been away from his desk for about a week. Doctors said his death was due to congestive heart failure.

Public memorial services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the First Methodist Church, 6635 Hohman Ave., with the Rev. Eugene R. Balsley. Cremated and buried in Hammond, Ind. cemetery.

Note: His sister Ruth (Caldwell) and husband Leonard C. Fisher of Humeston, Iowa attended. I was in Milwaukee, Wis., at home of my daughter Mary Lucille (Mrs. R.O.) Nieman, because of sickness, so could not attend his funeral.

Lee had a beautiful garden at his home and took great pride in raising flowers and shrubs not native to the midwest. He never ceased to astound acquaintances and friends with his ability to remember names and he was able to call nearly every member of the school faculty by name.

He was a trustee and member of the First Methodist Church and his stewardship included 35 years of teaching a Men's Sunday School class. Rev. Eugene Balsley said, "He served both his community and his church with distinction and fidelity. He lived a good, productive, useful life, dedicated to the glory of God and man. His characteristics were discipline, work, integrity."

Speaking for the approximately 300 faculty members, nearly all of whom Mr. Caldwell personally knew by name, Lucille Parre had high praise for him as an administrator.

"He had a sublime faith in humanity", she said in describing him as a person who looked for the good in his fellow man, and one who never held a grudge. "He had the unusal ability of being kind when kindness was called for and of being firm when firmness was needed. The world id a better place because he walked its path."

He suffered a stroke little more than a year ago, but he quickly recovered and returned to his duties which he carried out with his customary vigor. He complained of "feeling under the weather" last week and was ordered to the hospital for a checkup.

Mr. Caldwell earned his under-graduate degree at Simpson College and Iowa State Teachers Coolege. He received a master's degree from the University of Iowa and took additional post-graduate study at the University of Chicago.

many sought to replace him as superintendent, but none succeeded. Many of those who tried ened up as close friends and joined those who credited him with creating in Hammond one of the best school systems in the nation.